USING SONGS IN CHILDHOOD AND PRIMARY EDUCATION IN ENGLISH:
English teachers should use traditional songs because they are mainly repetitive and have a strong rhythm, because of these two characteristics children on childhood and primary education can quickly learn them. As teachers we can introduce these songs with some meaningful visual or audio resources so as to make them more attractive and interactive (pets, flashcards, CD’s, DVD’s… and also these resources can help us to point or ask some words… that pupils do not understand. Rhymes are funny and consequently motivating for pupils, all of these kinds of songs are usually destined for young people of all kinds, so they can be used to sing or perform at the same time with pupils who are even shy, rhymes can be performed alone or in big groups. These entertaining songs usually make pupils feel happy about what they have learnt, so they do not be afraid to show teachers, classmates or family this kind of learning. Kids can develop their physical and psychological skills at the same time like memory, focusing, coordination... Rhymes are also useful due to help children to improve their linguistic skills such as in making familiar the different sounds and pronunciations of the words. With these songs pupils start learning chunking and significant sentences instead of simply words, it is with these songs that they start taking knowledge about other aspects just like the rhythms and stressed patterns.
REMARKABLE POINTS OF THE RHYMES:
We have told almost everything before but we can still say something more specific about rhymes and their contributions and features:
1. Rhymes contain almost always the language in an authentic and natural way.
2. A new variety of vocabulary can be introduced to pupils with rhymes.
3. Rhymes are generally easily found.
4. Rhymes can be selected to suit some needs and interests of the studentss.
5. Grammar and cultural aspects can be introduced with rhymes.
6. Children can experience a wide range of English accents.
7. Pupils can find that rhymes are natural and interesting.
http://www.rhymes.org.uk/ (I highly recommend you this one; it contains a huge amount of traditional rhymes with their respective lyrics, origins & history.)
This year we have worked on rhymes with a very well known one like “Teddy Bear” is. With this song we have been tough to employ it so as to develop the pupils’ oral, listening and performing skills in a funny and significant way. So here I give you as an example all of the materials we have made to apply and analyze the “Teddy Bear” rhyme in classroom.
TEDDY BEAR
Our version Lyrics: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Turn around
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Walk down the Street
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Stamp your feet GIVEN RESOURCES THAT MAY HELP YOU TO DEVELOP THE "TEDDY BEAR" RHYME IN CLASS:
THE IMPORTANCE OF RHYMES: TEDDY BEAR
USING SONGS IN CHILDHOOD AND PRIMARY EDUCATION IN ENGLISH:
English teachers should use traditional songs because they are mainly repetitive and have a strong rhythm, because of these two characteristics children on childhood and primary education can quickly learn them.
As teachers we can introduce these songs with some meaningful visual or audio resources so as to make them more attractive and interactive (pets, flashcards, CD’s, DVD’s… and also these resources can help us to point or ask some words… that pupils do not understand.
Rhymes are funny and consequently motivating for pupils, all of these kinds of songs are usually destined for young people of all kinds, so they can be used to sing or perform at the same time with pupils who are even shy, rhymes can be performed alone or in big groups. These entertaining songs usually make pupils feel happy about what they have learnt, so they do not be afraid to show teachers, classmates or family this kind of learning. Kids can develop their physical and psychological skills at the same time like memory, focusing, coordination... Rhymes are also useful due to help children to improve their linguistic skills such as in making familiar the different sounds and pronunciations of the words.
With these songs pupils start learning chunking and significant sentences instead of simply words, it is with these songs that they start taking knowledge about other aspects just like the rhythms and stressed patterns.
REMARKABLE POINTS OF THE RHYMES:
We have told almost everything before but we can still say something more specific about rhymes and their contributions and features:
http://www.kidactivities.net/post/Teddy-Bear-Theme.aspx
(Web site with many activities suggestions to work with the Teddy bear theme.)
http://topics.info.com/Nursery-Rhyme-Songs_1160
(Web site with more information about rhymes.)
http://www.rhymes.org.uk/
(I highly recommend you this one; it contains a huge amount of traditional rhymes with their respective lyrics, origins & history.)
http://curry.virginia.edu/go/wil/rimes_and_rhymes.htm#This_Week
(Here you will find some Week Units and downloadables so as to work with rhymes.)
http://www.mothergoose.com/
(I recommend you to explore this web site due to find some resources to work on rhymes.)
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/rhymes/coloring/
(This site is recommended if you want to find resources like coloring sheets of a huge variety of traditional English rhymes)
http://www.niteowl.org/kids/
(To find coloring pages that deal with many rhymes)
DEVELOPED TASK:
This year we have worked on rhymes with a very well known one like “Teddy Bear” is.
With this song we have been tough to employ it so as to develop the pupils’ oral, listening and performing skills in a funny and significant way.
So here I give you as an example all of the materials we have made to apply and analyze the “Teddy Bear” rhyme in classroom.
TEDDY BEAR
Our version Lyrics:
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Turn around
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Walk down the Street
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Stamp your feet
GIVEN RESOURCES THAT MAY HELP YOU TO DEVELOP THE "TEDDY BEAR" RHYME IN CLASS: